Mary Jo (Tandy) Small, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed away at her home on October 6th with her family by her side.

Born in Shelby, Ohio on March 22nd, 1946, Tandy grew up in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and graduated from Our Lady Star of the Sea. She met her best friend and the love of her life Michael in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They were married six months later and were passionately in love for 56 years. Mike preceded Tandy in death, passing away earlier this August.

Tandy was a lover of nature, animals, contemporary art, and music. Her homes always had views of ponds, gardens, and a collection of bright colorful paintings. She and Mike spent many hours outdoors together tending their amazing flower and trees. Over the course of her life, she was a “fur” mother to 12 cats and 7 dogs. Tandy’s passions included roller skating, horseback riding, cards, board games, and golf. Her and Mike were members at Dearborn Country Club where she became President of the women’s’ “9 holers” league. She loved to winter in Estero, Florida where her and Mike would spend the time on their lanai watching the neighborhood alligators and cranes around the small lake in their back yard in between entertaining their grandchildren.

Tandy was generous with her time and a fierce lover of family. She took pride in raising her family and was the caregiver for her elderly extended family. When talking with her, one would feel like the center of her world. She was a wonderful woman, a force of nature, and she will be deeply missed.

Tandy is survived by her two children, Tiffany (Erik) Elie and Bradley (Rebecca) Small; her four grandchildren Sloan, Sabrina, Jade, and Taylor; and her late brother Michael (Gail) Riley.

May her memory be a blessing.

Visitation for Tandy will be held on Thursday, October 10th, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. She will lie in state on Friday, October 11th, at 10:30 a.m., until the time of her Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. She will be laid to rest in Franklin Cemetery, Franklin.

Following the Funeral Mass for Tandy, everyone is invited to continue to celebrate her life with a luncheon in her honor to be held at Steven Lelli's Inn On the Green, 27925 Golf Pointe Blvd., Farmington Hills.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Tandy’s name can be made to the Michigan Humane Society or to the Evans Scholars Foundation.